Observations Upon the Old Testament, Commentary · 2 Kings

Observations Upon the Old Testament · Commentary · 2 Kings

p. 100II. Kings.

THE second Book of Kings, [or fourth rather] containes the History of 321 years; to the lifting up of the head of Jehoiachim: In the reignes of

16 Kings of Iudah, counting in Athaliah.

12 King of Israel.

So that the number of Kings; from the first division of the Kingdomes, to the extirpation of them both, were twenty in each: Though the Kingdome of Israel did expire in Hoshea by Shalmanasar, before the Kingdome of Judah, did expire in Zedekiah by Nebuchadnezzar, the space of one hundred thirty and three years; not one hundred thirty and five

The twenty of Judah were all of Davids line, excepting Athaliah the Queen. The twenty of Israel were of ten several stocks.

Ahaziah, Joash, Amatziah, Kings of Judah, and Athaliah the Queene, all succeeding one another, were all slaine. Amon likewise, and his son Josiah both slaine.

And ten Kings of Israel, the half of all their number, were likewise slaine.

For the times of the reignes of Ahab, Ahaziah, Jehoram, Kings of Israel; and of Iehoshaphat, Iehoram, Ahaziah, Kings of Judah, take this as followeth;

Ahab reigned twenty two, years, 1 King. XVI. 31.

Ahazia the son of Ahab began to reigne in the seventeenth yeare of Jehoshaphat King of Judah; and reigned two years.

Jehoram the other son of Ahab, begins to reigne in the second year of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, 2 Kings I. 17. and in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat; and reigned twelve years, 2 Kings III. 1.

Jehoshaphat began to reigne in the fourth year of Ahab, 1 Kings XXII. 41. and reigned twenty five years, 2 Chron. XX. 31.

Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat began to reigne in his fathers lifetime; and in the fifth year of Jehoram of Ahab; and reigned eight years, 2 Kings VIII. 16, 17.

Ahaziah Kings of Judah, and son of Jehoram King of Judah, began to reigne in the twelfth year of Jehoram of Ahab, 2 Kings VIII. p. 10125. in his eleventh year, chap. IX. 29. Ahaziah himself being then twenty two years old, 2 Kings VIII. 26. or fourty two years old, 2 Chron. XXII. 2. And he reigned one year, 2 Kings VIII. 26. 2 Chron. XXII. 2.

All the doubts arising from the Premises are fairly cleared, as followeth: viz. Jehoshaphat King of Judah, beginning to reigne in the fourth year of Ahab King of Israel; And Jehoram King of Israel, and Ahaziah King of Judah, being both slaine by Jehu, in one yeare; Therfore between their deaths, And the first of Jehoshaphat, or fourth of Ahab, there must be one and the same distance and period of time. Which agrees well thus; In the line of Israel, eighteen years remaining of Ahabs twenty two 1 Kings XVI. 29. Two of Ahaziah, but one of them in his fathers life-time; and twelve of Jehoram: in all 31.

And so in the line of Iudah; twenty five of Iehoshaphat; and eight of Iehoram, whereof two at least in his fathers life-time; and Ahaziah but a piece of a year; in all thirty one.

Now Ahaziah of Israel beginning to reigne in the seventeenth of Iehoshaphat, shewes that Ahab had made him Viceroy the year before his death; for Ahab died in the eighteenth of Iehoshaphat: And so this Ahaziah reigned but one year himself alone.

And Iehoram the other son of Ahab beginning to reigne in the second year of Iehoram the son of Iehoshaphat, shewes, That Iehoshaphat had made his son Iehoram his Viceroy, the same year that Ahab had done the like; viz. the year before their going to battel to Ramoth-Gilead; which battell was in the last of Ahab, and eighteenth of Iehoshaphat.

And Iehoram the son of Iehoshaphat beginning to reigne in the fifth year of Iehoram of Ahab; and that being in the time of Iehoshaphats own reigning, and Iehoram reigning from that time eight years; shewes that Iehoshaphat made his son, of Voiceroy, King joynt with himself, in the twenty third year of his reigne, two years before his death. And so this Iehoram reigned as King two years in his father Iehoshaphats life-time, and six years after his death: Not four years in his life-time, and four years after his death, as is usualy averred.

And Ahaziah of Iudah, upon the premises, begins to reigne, upon the twelfth year beginning, or eleventh year ending, of Iehoram of Israel.

And Iehoram the father of this Ahaziah beginning to reigne in the thirty two year of his age, and reigning eight years, and dying at fourty, 2 Kings VIII. 17, 24; This Ahaziah cannot possibly be fourty two, but twenty two, when he began to reigne; his father being married to Athaliah, his mother, in the eighth year of, Iehoshaphats reigne. And those fourty two years must needs relate to another time then Ahaziah's age; and do justly agree with the number of years of the continuance of Omri his race in the royal Throne, from whom this Ahaziah descended by his mother Athaliah and in whom, and Omries p. 102grandchilde Jehoram it ended: Thus, Omri alone, after the death of Tibni, six or seven years, 1 Kings XVI. 23, 29. Ahab, twenty two; Ahaziah alone; one, Jehoram twelve: in all fourty two. And the Hebrew expression in 2 Chron. XXII. 2. is this, A sonne of fourty two years was Ahaziah inhis reigning; which may have a relation to a continuance in a stock. And a passage and computation, not unlike to this, is that, 2 Chron. XV. 19. and chap. XVI. 1. from the beginning of the division of the two Kingdomes of Judah and Israel. This Ahaziah of Judah is otherwise called Azariah, 2 Chron. XXII. 6. and Jehoahaz, chap. XXI. 17. and Joahaz, 2 Chron. XXV. 23.

For the times of the reignes of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Kings of judah; And of Zuchariah, Shallum, Menachem, Pekiah, Pekah, Hosheah, Kings of Israel, take this, as followeth;

Vzziah being smitten with Leprosie, in his old age, for attempting to offer Incense, on the Altar of Incense, his son Jotham was over the Kings house, judging the people of the Land, 2 Chron. XXVI. 21. This seemes to be four years before his father Uzziah's death: And so may seeme to extend, after a sort, the number of the years of Jothams reigne to twenty, 2 Kings XV. 30. whereas Jotham reigned only sixteen years after the death of his father Uzziah, 2 Kings XV. 33.

Jotham begins his sixteen in the second of Pekah's twenty, 2 Kings XV. 32. In Iothams dayes Pekah, and Rezin begin to trouble Iudah, 2 Kings XV. 37.

Ahaz begins his six…een in the seventeenth of Pekah's twenty, 2 Kings XVI. 1. Then doth the danger by Pekah and Rezin increase. He is spoiled by them; and by the Edomites; and the Philistines, 2 Chron. XXVIII. And by the Assyrian, partly helped; and partly distressed.

Hezekiah begins his twenty nine in the third of Hoshea, 2 Kings XVIII. 1, 2. that is, the third after his first nine, 2 Kings XVII. 1. which ninth falls in with the ending of the twelftth of Ahaz; and that third after it, falls in with the beginning of the sixteenth and last of Ahaz.

2 King. XV. 8, 13.

Zachariah begins in the thirty eight of Uzziah.

Shallum begins in the thirty nine of Uzziah

Menachem begins his ten in the thirty nine of Uzziah, 2 King. XV. 17. Then Pul King of Assyria made an attempt upon Menachem, ver. 18, 19, 20.

Pekahiah begins his two in the fiftieth of Vzziah, 2 King. XV. 23.

Pekah begins his twenty in the fifty two of Vzziah, 2 King. XV. 27. And so Pekah's first, and Uzziah's last, are in one year. In Pekah's dayes Tiglath-Pelezer captived Galilee and Naphtali into Assyria, 2 King. XV. 29.

Hoshea rules and reignes eighteen years. For thirty eight yeares are from the first of Jotham, to the sixth of Hezekiah: And so many must be from the first of Pekah, to the end and last of Hoshea: And Pekah reigning twenty, the remain for Hoshea must needs be eighteen.

p. 103Hoshea begins in the twentieth of Jotham 2 King. XV. 30. that is, from the beginning of his reigne, from the beginning of his sixteenth. For Jothams fourth, in his father Uzziah's time, did precede his sixteene. And his sixteene ended in the seventeenth of Pekah, when Jothams son Ahaz began to reigne, 2 King. XVI. 1. So that Hoshea truly began in the fourth of Ahaz; which was the twentieth from the time that Jotham began to reigne; not that Jotham reigned twenty years, till Hoshea began. And Hoshea had reigned nine years in the twelfth of Ahaz. And these first nine years, the Sacred story passeth over in silence: He having done nothing remarkable or memorable in them. His later nine years are storied ont thus; That the first of them begins in the twelfth of Ahaz, 2 King. XVII. 1. That in the third of them, which was the last of Ahaz, Hezekiah began to reigne, 2 King. XVIII. 1. That in the seventh of them, and fourth of Hezekiah, Shalmanezar came and besieged Samaria, 2 King. XVIII. 9. That in the ninth and last of them, and sixth of Hezekiah, Shalmanesar took Samaria, and carried all captives into Assyria, and finaly extinguished that Kingdome of Israel, 2 King. XVIII. 10, 11.

The Names then, and the Numbers of the years of the Reignes of the Kings of Judah, and of Israel, in this II. Book of Kings, are as followeth, viz. of

See my Annotations on Hos. I. 1.

p. 104If thou see me] chapter II verse 10 This signe was of Gods appointment. And the thing done on the East-side of Iordan.

a Minstrel] To quiet, chapter III verse 15 quicken, and compose his spirit.

his eldest sonne] The King of Edoms eldest son, verse 27 taken by the King of Moab in this eruption. See Amos II. 1. and the Annotations there.

Shunem] A Citie in the Tribe of Issachar, chapter IV verse 8 Iosh. XIX. 18. And hath, in the same Tribe standing from it, Iezreel towards the South; Mount Gilboa towards the South-East; The river Kishon on the East; and Mount Tabor towards the North-North-East, in the Confines of the Tribe of Zebulon. In Shunem the Philistines pitched against Saul in Gilboa, 1 Sam. XXVIII 4. Here was borne Abishag that fair Virgin, that lay in Davids bosome to cherish him, as a wife-nurse, in his decreped age: And was afterwards sought for in marriage by Adonijah; but to the losse of his life, in the State-wisdome of Solomon, 1 King. I. and II. chapters. And here dwelt this great and good woman that made these accommodations for the Prophet Elishah: and upon his Prophetical promise obtained a sonne: and had him miraculously raised from death of life againe by Elishah coming from Mount Carmel hither; as is in this IV. Chapter. And further, upon this accompt, after her seven years absence, on the Prophets direction, by reason of the Famine to ensue during that time, she returning out of the Land of the Philistines, had her house, lands, and profits of her estate restored to her, by Iehoram King of Israel, 2 King. VIII.

Gilgal] Of this see the Annotations on Hos. IV. 15. verse 38

twenty loaves of barley] This was more then the bread of his first fruits came to. verse 42

King of Syria] This was Benhadad the son of Benhadad; chapter V both Kings of Syria, verse 5 1 Kings XV. 18, 19, 20. and XX. 1. 34. 2 King. VI. 24. and VIII. 7. 2. Chron. XVI. 2. The father was the sonne of Tabrimon, the sonne of Hezion King of Syria, 1 King. XV. 18. This the sonne slew Ahab at Ramoth-Gilead, 1 King. XXII. 35, 37. Who contrary to Gods command had saved him, 1 King. XX. 42. And besieging Samaria, he brought it to that extreme famine, 2 King. VI. 24, 25. And after at Ramoth-Gilead, he wounded Jehoram, the son of Ahab, 2 King. VIII. 28, 29. Whence returning to Jezreel to be healed of his wounds, he was slaine by Jehu, 2 King. IX. 24. And this son died, 2 King. VIII. 15.

A third Benhadad King of Syria was the son of Hazael, 2 King. XIII. 3, 24.

Benhadad signifies the son of Hadad. And Hadad was a name very common among the Kings of Edom, or Idumea, Gen. XXXVI. 35. 1 Chron. I. 50. 1 King. XI. 14 but afterwards grew more common with the Kings of Syria; insomuch as Benhadad may seeme a name common to the Kings of Syria. See Jer. XLIX. 27. Amos I. 4.

And take here a Catalogue of the Kings of Syria, as we finde them in Scripture; thus; Omitting Chushan-Rishathaim, who was King of p. 105Aram-Naharaim. or Syria between the two rivers, that is Tigris, and Euphrates; or of Mesopotamia, Judg. III. 10. We finde these Kings of Syria, properly so called, whereof Damascus was the chief Citie, viz.

Hadadezer, or Hadarezer, in Davids time, 2 Sam. VIII. 5, 6, 13. and X. 6, 8, 16.

Rezon, in the dayes of Solomon, 1 King. XI. 23, 24, 25.

Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, in the dayes of Asa, 1 King. XV. 18, 19, 20.

Benhadad the son of Benhadad, in the dayes of Ahab, and of Elias, and Eliseus; And Nahaman was the Captain of his hoast, 1 King. XX. 1, 20, 26, 32, 34. and XXII. 3. and 2 King. V. 1, 2, 6, 7. and chap. VI. 8, 12, 23, 24. and chap VII. 4. 16.

Hazael, in the dayes of Joram, Jehu, Iehoahaz, 1 King. XIX. 15. 2 King. VIII. 7, 8, 13. and X. 32. and XII. 17. and XIII. 3, 22.

Benhadad, the son of Hazael, in the dayes of Iehoash, … King. XIII. 24, 25.

Rezin, in the dayes of Pekah, and of Ahaz, 2 King. XVI. 5. Esay VII. 1. 16. and VIII. 4.

Talents] See my Observations on Exod. XXXVIII. 24.

Go in peace] A fare-well phrase, verse 19 a friendly dismission; with little or no relation to what Nahaman had said; as little minding it, and of smal concernment to the greater engagements that then lay upon him: which kinde of Answers are not unusual.

The Leprosie] Yet King Jehoram holds conference with Gehazi afterwards, verse 27 2 King. VIII. 4. as upon sundry grounds, and occasions incident, in a right manner well he might.

are come down] chapter VI verse 9 Here the holy Pen-man useth a word of the Syrian language.

Dothan] In the Tribe of Ephraim: verse 13 about mid-way between Samaria and Shechem. Here Joseph findes his brethren feeding their flocks, Gen. XXXVII. 13, 17.

This is not the way] No, verse 19 nor the place or Citie, whereby, and wherein, to effect your purpose.

came no more] Not these Bands; verse 23 nor in this maner, making inrodes, or laying ambushes; nor any at all of a long time after, till Benhadad came with all his hoast, ver. 24.

a Cab] Is a Hebrew measure. verse 25 Of this see my Observations on Gen. XVIII. 6.

of Doves dung] Or of the corne found in the crop, she flying into the Citie out of the Countrey.

five peeces of silver] Or five silverings. See these Observations on Exod. XXXVIII. 24.

said] Said to the Elders, chapter VII verse 1 to the Messinger, and to the King Jehoram the son of Ahab, ver. 17. 18.

a measure] See my Observations on Gen XVIII 6.

twilight] In the evening, verse 5 ver. 9, 12.

p. 106Edom] Edom revolts from Judah, chapter VIII verse 20 1 King. XXII, 47. As Moab had done from Israel, 2 King. III. 5.

Libna] A Citie; verse 22 which with the King thereof was destroyed by Joshuah, Josh. X. 29. and XII. 15. After fell by lot to the Tribe of Judah; And given to the Priests, Josh. XXI. 13. 1 Chron. VI. 57. It rebelled [wonder it should] against Judah, in the dayes of wicked Iehoram, the son of good Iehoshaphat, 2 Chron. XXI. 10. Senacherib did warre against it, in the dayes of Hezekiah, 2 King. XIX. 8. Esay XXXVII. 8. And there likely had his army, or a great part of it slaine by the Angel of the Lord. There was another place called Libna, the seventeenth Station of the Israelites, mentioned Num. XXXIII. 20, 21.

Sonne-in-law] His father was so. verse 27 And himself might be to that House.

Ramoth-Gilead] A Citie of Refuge; verse 28 in the Tribe of Gad; given to the Merarites; Deut. IV. 43. Josh. XIII. 26. and chap. XXI. 38. This was taken by the King of Syria; And Ahab, with the joynt forces of Jehoshaphat, seeking to recover it, yet failed of his purpose, and was there slaine by Benhadad, whose life he had unjustly spared; 1 King. XX. 30, 42. and XXII. 3, 35. And Jehoram the sonne of Ahab, with the joynt forces of Ahaziah King of Judah, actualy recovered it, from Hazael King of Syria, But was wounded there. And Jehu being left there, as a Captaine under Jehoram, to keep it, was anointed there, by command and direction of the Prophet Elisha, to be King of Israel; who thereupon soone slew both Jehoram, and Ahaziah; 2 King. VIII. 28, 29. and chap. IX.

his sonnes] chapter IX verse 26 Naboths sons slaine with him.

a draught-house] Here the Masorets put a more cleanly word, chapter X verse 27 in their Keri, in the margin, to be read, then is the Cetib, written in the Text; as if they would prompt to the Holy Ghost a more manerly speech. And so Deut. XXVIII. 30. Jer. III. 2. Lesse marvaile then if they deale so with the words of Rabshakeh, Esay XXXVI. 12. And in Zechary speaking of Jerusalems destruction, and womens usage by soldiers, grosse to speak, the Text telleth the terme to be seene, the margin what they would have read. And in Jer. XXXI. 38. they leave a blanck in the Text with the vowel points underneath, and place the head letters in the margin of a word which they suppose to be wanting. Some various Readings seeme to be in the Hebrew Text. See the learned Annotations on Jer. IX. 8. and on chap. XVII. 13. And some learned seeme to grant some superfluous insertions, as Jer. LI. 3 in the word bending; and Jer. LII. 19. in the word Cauldrons. See the Annotations on those places. Yet some other learned men assert the sacred Text to be absolutely entire and perfect without the least default or defect; without altering a syllable, letter, or situation of a letter; holding the margin-reading to be given with equal authority, as the other which is in the Text; and serving to expound it. And the vowels, and accents to have been ab origine in p. 107the Text, and so of equal authority with it. Insisting upon the Jews care for preservation of the Text, in numbering the letters in every Book, and naming the middle letter in it, and the middle letter in the Law, or Books of Moses. And this done not only by the Masorets that lived five hundred years or more after Christ; but also by those ancient Masorets that are called the men of the Great Synagogue, and succeeded next to the last Prophets of the Old Testament, of whom the Jewes make Ezra to be one. And that in his time the whole number of the letters were reckoned, in all the Law to be 600045. in the Prophets 815280. See more in my Observations on Eccles. IX. 4. and on Ier. XXXII. 12.

Iehoiadah] This Iehoiadah was a Priest and prime man, chapter XI verse 4 2 Chron. XXIII. 1, 11, 16, 18, 19, 20. and chap. XXIV. 6. seemes not to be the High Priest: for he is no where so called in Scripture; except he be understood in that place, 2 Chron. XXIV. 11. where yet he is not called foreign neither is there any of his name in that Catalogue of the High Priests, 1 Chron. III. 6,—15. And yet this Priest Iehoiada marries King Iehorams daughter, and King Ahaziah's sister, 2 Chron. XXII. 11. And gives, wives to King Ioash, 2 Chron. XXIV. 3. And was buried among the Kings, ver. 16.

Elisha] or Elizeus prophesied in the reignes of six Kings of Israel; chapter XIII verse 14 viz. Ahab, Ahaziah, Iehoram, Iehu, Iehoahaz, and Ioash, 1 King. XIX. 16, 19. 2 King. XIII. ver. 14. with

Lachish] See the Annotations on Micah. I. chapter XIV. XV. verse 1 13.

Azariah] Called also Uzziah, verse 19 and Ozias, Matth. I, 8, 9. reigned in the times of six Kings of Israel; viz. Ieroboam the second, Zachariah, Shallum, Menahem Pekahiah, Pekah, 2 King. XV. 1. 27 In which time the Kingdome of Israel was changed into four several stocks or families.

Pul] Pul or Phul, verse 19 1 Chron. V. 26. This Catalogue of the Assyrian Monarchs we finde in Scripture; viz. Passing by Nimrod, and Ashur in the ancientest times, Gen. X. We meet with this Pul in the dayes of Menahem King of Israel.

Tiglath-Peleser, or Tilgath-Pilneser, in the dayes of Pekah King of Israel, and of Ahaz King of Judah: who carried away captives the Reubenites; and the Gadites, and the half Tribe of Manasseh, into Assyria, 1 Chron. V. 26. And, both helped, and afflicted Ahaz, 2 King. 16. with

Shalmanesar, or Shalman, Hos. X. 14. or Enemessar, Tobit I. 2. 15. in the dayes of Hoshea King of Israel; who subdued Hoshea, beseiged and took Samaria; carried Israel captive into Assyria; and extirpated that Kingdome of Israel, 2 King. XVII. 4, 5, 6. and XVIII. 9, 10. with

Sargon, mentioned, Esay XX. 1. If he be not the same with Sennacherib. with

Sennacherib, in the dayes of Hezekiah, 2 King. XVIII. 13. whose hoast was slaine by the Angel of the Lord; and himself by his owne sons, 2 King. 19. with

Esarhaddon, or Esar-Haddon, who seemes to be called Asnapper, p. 108Ezra IV. 10. and Sarchedonus, Tobit 1. 21. with

Another King of Assyria, not named, but living in the dayes of Iosiah; in whose behalf Iosiah fighting against Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt, at Megiddo, was slaine there 2 King. XXIII. See this same, with some little variations, in my Observations on 1 Chron. V. 26.

Kir] This is Cyrene, chapter XVI verse 9 mentioned, Acts II. 10. Of this see the Annotations on Amos I. 5. and IX. 7. If rather be not meant hereby that part of Media: which from this deportation seemes to be called Syromedia, For Media belonged to the Kingdome of Assyria, 2 King. XVII. 6. But Cyrene never, being very farre distant from it.

Of the Altar] Of Urijahs new Altar made by the command of King Ahaz, verse 14 by the patterne of the Altar of Damascus.

Urijah the Priest] This might be that Uriah, verse 15 Esay VIII. 2 unfaithful to God, a fawning parasite to the wicked King; but no wayes appears to be the High Priest.

Covert for the Sabbath] A Covert for the Priests (and Porters likely) on the Sabbath; verse 18 or a retiring place covered over to keep from winde and raine, 2 Chron. XXVIII. 24.

in the City of David] But not in the Sepulchers of the Kings, verse 20 2 Chron. XXVIII. 27.

but not as] Hosheah was the best of the Kings of Israel: chapter XVII verse 2 And yet with him, and in him that Kingdome was extirpated.

Carried Israel away into Assyria] See the Observations on chap. verse 6 XV. 19.

They feared the Lord] The same Idolaters are said to Fear the Lord, verse 32, & 34 And not to Fear the Lord, 2 King. XVII. 32, 33, 34.

Their folly is derided, Ier. X. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 14, 15.

Hezekiah] Godly Hezekiah the son of most wicked Ahaz, chapter XVIII verse 1 2 Chron. XXVIII. 22. And father of a like wicked Manasseh, 2 King. XXIV. 3. 2 Chron. XXXIII. And godly Iosiah not much unlike.

He is a Type of Christ, Esay XXXII. 1.

twenty five years old] And therefore was borne in the eleventh yeare of his father Ahaz; verse 2 because Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reigne, and reigned sixteen years, 2 King. XVI. 2. In all, thirty six when he died. Out of which take the foresaid twenty five; and so Hezekiah must be borne in the eleventh aforesaid. A thing not impossible. But to make Ahaz to be twenty, not when himself, but his father Iotham began to reigne, as it wresteth the Text, so it implies an utter impossibility, because Iotham was but twenty five years old when he himself began to reigne, 2 King. XV. 33. which thing was not well considered by the excellent Tremellius when he asserted that opinion; nor is it much favoured, though noted by our Annotators on 2 King. XVI. 2.

In the fourteenth year] Sennacherib comes up against Hezekiah; verse 13 and partly prevailes against him. See the causes of this his warre, in the learned Annotations on Esay XXXVI. 1. And in the later end of that year Hezekiah fell sick: for he had 15. years added to his life, 2 King. p. 109XX. 6. which make up the twenty nine of his reigne. And in this time of his sicknesse, he had no some; because Manasseh his eldest sonne was borne three years after this sicknesse, being but twelve years old when his father Hezekiah died, 2 King. XXI. 1.

a Signe] The present plenty, chapter XIX verse 29 notwithstanding the Sabbatical year, and the enemies abode, and waste made in the Land, should be a Signe to them for confirmation of the truth of Gods Promise, for the overthrow of Sennacherib, and their deliverance. Of Signes see these Observations on Exod. III. 12. and on 2 King. XX. 9.

Camp of the Assyrians] Either before Libnah, verse 35 or Jerusalem, or both, 2 Chron. XXXII. 9. See the Observations on Esay XXXVII. 36.

his sonnes] These words have an empty place left for them in the Hebrew Tex; verse 37 and are printed only in the margent. But they are in the Text, XXXVII. 38.

ten degrees] This choise was given to Hezekiah about mid-day, chapter XX verse 9 when the shadow of the Sunne might go forward or backward ten degrees on the Dial of Ahaz, a famous Dial, haply mural, and haply visible to Hezekiah out of his bed-chamber: and so likewise in all other Dials, distinguished into half hours, as that of Ahaz was. And so ten degrees make five hours. And the Miracle was not only in the Shadow going backward, but in the Sunne also going backward ten degrees: though whether in an instant, or in the set course of time, or its ordinary continual motion, is not certaine, Esay XXXVIII. 8. Which made the Ambassadors of the Princes of Babylon to be sent unto him, to enquire of the wonder that was done in the Land, 2 Chron. XXXII. 31. See on Esay. XXXVIII. 8.

Altars] Idolatrous Altars, chapter XXI verse 3 and Images set up in the House of the Lord, ver. 4, 5, 7.

eighteenth year] From this famous year, chapter XXII verse 3 both those thirty years, Ezek. I. 1. And those fourty dayes or years of the sinne of Judah, chap. IV. 6. seeme to take their rise and reckoning.

the Book of the Law] The knowledge of it; verse 8 and the Lawes in it, seemes a rare and strange thing, as at other times, so in the dayes of good Josiah, 2 King, XXII. 10, 11. 2 Chron. XXXIV. 19, 21. notwithstanding that Law Deut. XXXI. 10, 11.

in peace] Josiah died in peace, verse 20 according to the Promise, not seeing the Evils to come; though he was slaine in battel, 2 King. XXII. 20. and XXIII. 29. 2 Chron. XXXIV. 28.

Topheth] Called Tophte, chapter XXIII verse 10 Esay XXX. 33. The name is from Toph, signifying a Drum, Tabret, or Timbrel; such as idolatrous Priests used to beat upon in the time of their detestable sacrificing of children to Moloch, to drowne their skrikes and cries, Levit. XX. 2. 2 Chron. XXVIII. 3. and XXXIII. 6. 2 King. XVI. 3. and XXI. 6. Psal. CVI. 38. This the Jewes learned from the Heathen, Deut. XII. 31. This Tophet stood in a pleasant valley on the South-side of Jerusalem, Josh. XV. 8. and chap. XVIII. 16. Belonging to one Hinnom and his sons, and called therefore the valley of Hinnom, Gehinnom, or Ge-bene-Hinnom, p. 110the valley of the sonnes of Hinnom. Whence the Greek and Latin take the word Gehenna, and use it for Hell, fitly resembled by such a Type, for the horrid acts and sufferings used therein, Matth. XVIII. 8, 9. Mar. IX. 43,—48. James III. 6. And allusion is made hereunto, Matth. V. 22. This place was defiled and destroyed by Josiah, in this Text. See the Annotations on Esay XXX. 33. and on Jer. VII. 31.

Jehoahaz] Called also Joachaz, verse 31 and Johanan, and in the opinion of the most and best, Shallum likewise; The Prophesie concerning Shallum, Jer. XXII. 10, 11, 12. best agreeing to him; And supposing that Shallum the fourth sonne of Josiah mentioned, 1 Chron. III. 15. to be dead before his father; yet under the name of Johanan he is called the first-borne of Jo…h, 1 Chron. III. 15. in respect likely that he first succeeded him in his throne, 2 Chron. XXXVI. 1. Of him see Ezek. XIX. 3, 4.

Jehojakim] Jehojakim called also Joachim, verse 36 and Eliakim (as Solomon was also called Iedidiah and Lemuel) was the eldest sonne of Iosiah. Of him, and his Burial, we read Ier. XXII. 19. and XXXVI. 30. 2 Chron. XXXVI. 5, 6. Ezek. XIX. 5,—9.

Iehojakim] In his fourth, chapter XXIV verse 1 year, or third complete, and 1. of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel was carried captive, Dan. I. 1, 6. Ezekiel, and Mordecai, with Iehojachin, Ezek. XL. 1. Esther II. 5, 6. Of Ezechiel, see the Argument of his Book.

Iehojacin] Called likewise Coniah, verse 6 and Iechoniah, 1 Chron. III. 16. Ier. XXII. 28 Of his age at the beginning of his reigne, See the Observations on 2 Chron. XXXVI. 9. He was carried captive into Babylon in the seventh ending, and eighth year beginning of Nebuchadnezzars reigne, ver. 12. Ier. LII. 28. And his head lifted up againe in the thirty seventh year of his captivity, twelfth monethmonth, on the twenty fifth, and twenty seventh day; and first year of Evilmerodach, 2 King. XXV. 27. Ier. LII. 31.

Zedekiah rebelled] Zedekiah rebelled in his sixth year, verse 20 Ezek. XVII. 15, 17. compared with Ezek. VIII. 1. and XX. 1.

the second Priest] Grounded on Num. chapter XXV verse 8 III. 32. And mentioned as here, So Ier. LII. 24. See 2 King. XXIII. 4. and the like, 1 Chron. V. 12. This second Priest, upon any extraordinary occasion and occurrent restraining or disabling the High Priest, seemes set to supply his place.

to Riblah] See the Observations on Num. XXXIV. 11.

p. 111THE Books of Chronicles do chiefly pursue the Histories of the Kings of Judah. And yet are more sparing in relating the sinnes of David, and Solomon.

These are not those Chronicles often cited in the Books of Kings; as hath been shewed heretofore. But these are thought to be written by Ezra, 2 Chron. XXXVI. 22, 23. Ezra I. 1, 2, 3 And that after the return from the Babylonish captivity. Yet some things are inserted which extend beyond Ezra's time; as that 1 Chron. III. 21,—24. In these Books, as in an Abridgement, the holy Penman is sometimes short, and obscure. But in the Histories of the Kings of Judah, full and exact.

Take the periods of times from the Creation, to the year of Returne from the Babylonish Captivity, And so these Books containe an History of 3458. years. The first Book, 2986. to the death of David; Thus; Genesis, 2369; Exodus, 142; Levit, Num. Deut. 39. Joshuah 17. Judges, 299. 1 Sam. 80. 2 Sam. 40. In all, 2986.

The second Book 472. from the beginning of Solomons reigne, to the said year of Returne; Others reckon thus; 3467. in the whole: 2990. in the first Book: 477. in the second Book. Others, and that most likely, 2986. in the first Book; And 466. in the second Book: viz. from the first of Solomon, to the seventeenth of Jehoshaphat, 118. Thance to the Captivity in the first of Nebuchadnezzar, and fourth of Iehojakim, 278. Thence to the Returne, 70. In all, 466. And so the whole in both Books will amount to 3452.

The first Book mentions occasionally some things long after Davids death; as the Inhabitants of Jerusalem after the Returne from Babylon, chap. IX. And Zerubbabels posterity long after that, chap. III.